President's Statement on the Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy

I am pleased that Chairman Pete Aldridge and the members of the
Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy
have developed recommendations supporting the vision for America's
space program. I appreciate their hard work and service.

The Commission's report makes clear that this vision, which I
announced in January, is a sustainable and affordable long-term human
and robotic program to explore space. We will explore space to improve
our lives and lift our national spirit. Space exploration is also
likely to produce scientific discoveries in fields from biology to
physics, and to advance aerospace and a host of other industries. This
will help create more highly skilled jobs, inspire students and
teachers in math and science, and ensure that we continue to benefit
from space technology, which has already brought us important
improvements in areas as diverse as hurricane forecasting, satellite
communications, and medical devices.

The Commission worked diligently to collect ideas from a variety of
voices from across the country, and to develop innovative
recommendations. The Commission's recommendations will be reviewed and
considered, and NASA will accelerate the transformation it has begun.
I am confident that the Commission's report will help Congress, NASA,
other government agencies, the private sector, the international
community, and the American public to work together to undertake the
next steps in our journey into space for the benefit of generations to
come.